Convertible furniture



April 8, 1958 A. F. LENART CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1954 um. @w v@ Nm Q. mm o ---.-M

April 811958 A. F. LENART 2,829,381

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE Filed March 29. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Hncrew F Lemar ATTORN S nited States Patent CoNvERTmLE FURNITURE Andrew F. Lenart, Jackson Heights, N; Y., assignor to Castro Convertible Corporation, a corporation of New York Application March 29, 1954, Serial No. 419,173

7 Claims. (Cl. 5--13) This invention relates to folding bed mechanisms of the type adapted to be used in sofa beds, love-seat beds, chair beds and the like. More particularly, it relates to bed mechanisms which` may be securely locked when in the folded or closed position and easily unlocked when the mechanism is opened.

While various types of mechanisms for furniture such as sofa beds have been proposed and to some extent actually used, such mechanisms have been subject to certain objections and disadvantages, particularly regarding the means for locking the frame mechanism in a closed or sofa position. For example, certain frame mechanisms have been dii-licult to open and close by the persons who use such furniture. Moreover, in some instances, known frame constructions either have failed to provide a means for locking the frame in the closed position or have employed devices which were cumbersome, ineflicient and unreliable, or else were llimsy and poorly performed the function of locking and unlocking the mechanism.

lt is therefore an object of this invention to provide a foldable bedframe mechanism which automatically locks when the frame is closed and which automatically unlocks when the frame is opened. It is another object of the invention to provide a foldable bed mechanism having locking means which are simple and have high durability. Still another object of the invention is to provide a locking bed mechanism of the foldable type which does not require a large capital outlay for littings and tools in the manufacture thereof, and which is not overly expensive to construct 'and to maintain. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part pointed out and in part apparent as this specification proceeds.

Before describing the invention further, it is to be observed that the subsequent recitation of speciiic details and features of construction is generally intended to be illustrative of the principles of the invention and not limiting thereof, the invention being defined with formal particularity in the appended claims.

The features of the invention may perhaps best be understood and appreciated by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment.

Figure l is a side view of a bed frame mechanism extending from a typical sofa frame.

Figure 2 is a side View of the bed frame mechanism of Figure l in the closed position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial perspective View of the head section of a bed mechanism and a portion of a preferred form of lock.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the foot portion of a preferred form of lock, taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2. l j

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a portion -of the head section of the bed mechanism of Figure l.`

Now referring to the drawings in greater detail, in

rPatented Apr. 8, 1958 Figures l and 2 there is shown a foldable bed mechanism generally designated as 11 Which is pivotally attached to and supported within a sofa frame 13. As illustrated, bed mechanism 11 is comprised of four foldable main sections, namely a head section 15, a body section 17, an intermediate section 19 and a foot section 21, the side rail member 16 of head section 15 being pivotally connected to arm 23 at riveted joint 24. Arm 23 is pivotally connected at riveted joint 26 to brace Z5 which in turn is rigidly attached at 27 to a side member of the sofa frame 13. As described, it is to be understood that the members specified are rigid-side rails being made ,of angle iron and other members being made of strap iron, each main side member having a corresponding member (not shown) on the opposite side of the bed mechanism and each main section being provided with at least one rigid cross member or brace. Straight toggle arm 28 is pivotally secured to arm 23 by pivot pin 31 and also to bent toggle arm member 18 of section 17 at pivotal joint 29; bent toggle arm 18 is pivotally joined to side rail member 16 at 30 and at its opposite end is pivotally connected to side strap member 32 at 32a. Side rail member 16 of head section 15 is pivotally pinned to the side lrail member 17arof body section 17 at 30a.

Referring to Figure 2 it will be noted that the four main sections 15, 17, 19 and 21 of the mechanism described are foldable so that in the closed position, head section 15 is disposed substantially vertically behind the upholstered sofa back 14, body section 17 is substantially horizontal and adjacent to the bottom of the sofa frame 13, intermediate section 19 is substantially vertically arranged near the front of sofa frame 13 and foot section 21 is folded over and horizontally disposed to provide a seat platform for the sofa cushions (not shown). To accomplish the folding as described, body section 17 is comprised of side rail member 17a pivotally connected to the head section side rail 16 at 30a and pivotally connected to the intermediate side rail member 19a at 79. Similarly, foot section 21 has its side rail member 21a pivotally connected to intermediate section side rail member 19a at 77.

Bent bracket member 38 is rigidly secured to spring bracket member 40 which in turn is pivotally secured at 41 to brace 46 of sofa frame 13 and at its other end 42 is pivotally .attached to spring attachment 43. Coiled helical springs 44 are secured at their ends to spring attachment-s 43 and 45; the latter being secured at 45a to brace 46. The bent bracket member 38 is pivotally mounted on the outer side of rail member 17a at 33 and is also pivotally secured at 35 to diagonal leg brace 52. Thus as the entire mechanism 11 is closed, the springs 44 are tensioned, bent bracket member 38 pivots counter-clockwise and thereby draws in leg brace 52, which is pivotally secured to inner leg 54 at 55, thereby placing leg54 in a substantially horizontal position. As shown, inner leg 54 has a caster 58 axially mounted at 57 and at its opposite end leg 54 is pivotally mounted at to leg bracket 111 which is rigidly attached to rail member 17a.

In the open or extended position of the mechanism 11, an upholstered :front board 68 is disposed parallel to the floor; in the closed position front board 68 overlies the sofa frame front member 50. This movement of the front board 68 is attained by attachingthe front board to sup-- port member 67 which is pivotally mounted on link 62 at 63 and tov link 169 at 70. In turn, link 169 is pivotallymounted on end section rail member 21a at 71 and linkmember 64 is pivotally mounted via bracket 66 to intermediate section rail member 19a at 65. Cross braces: (not shown) extend to the respective opposite side mem-` bers of link 64 and inner leg 54.

Outer or foot section 21 is comprised of side rail I member 21a to which is pivotally mounted outer leg link 90 at 69; link 90 is pivotally attached at 91 to outer leg 92,

the latter being also pivotally attached to side rail mem-` two substantially parallel links 101 and 10S at 102, 103, s

106 and 107 Front board diagonal toggle 95 is pivotally secured to leg 92 at 96 and to link 101 at 104.

Revcrting now to the linkages of the body and intermediate sections 17 and 19, it will be observed that bent toggle arm 18 is secured to side strap member 32 which in turn is pivotally attached to bent bracket member 38 at 33 to side rail member 17a at 36. Also pivotally secured at 36 to side rail member 17a is outer strap member 60 which is pivotally attached at 75 to intermediate strap 74 and at 61 to link 62. Providing additional strength at the junction of sections 17 and 19 is inner reinforcing strap member 76, pivotally attached to side rail 19a at 77a and slidably mounted in slot 179 to side rail 17a by enlarged pin 78. Intermediate strap 74 is pivotally attached to side rail member 19a at 69, this also being the common pivot point of link 90.

Turning now to the locking features of the invention which are shown in `detail in Figures 4, 5 and 6, it will be noted that a transversely extending headboard 80 has attached at an end thereof a channel iron rubbing bracket 120 secured to the headboard 80 by recessed screws 121. t

Upright member 86 which is rigidly attached to side rail 16 at 88 and is rigidly secured to a side of rubbing bracket 120 by rivets 122 serves to maintain headboard 80 in a substantially vertical position when mechanism 11 is open (see Fig. 1) and in a substantially horizontal position when the mechanism 11 is closed (see Fig. 2).

Rigidly secured to member 86 at 126 and to side rail 16 at 127 is truss member 125 which serves to reinforce the headboard 80 when it performs the locking function as hereinafter described. A stop 124, formed by extending a portion of rail 16 outward, cams against member 86 as a further reinforcement, if necessary.

Referring -now to Figures 5 and 1, it will be noted that mounted on the outer end and underside of side rail member 21a of foot section 21 is attached a channel` shaped roller bracket 142 on which is mounted axles 146 and rollers 144. These are so positioned that as mechanism 11 is closed, whereby head section 15 assumes a vertical position, headboard 80 being horizontal and end or foot section 21 also being horizontal, rollers 144 snugly slide under and against rubbing bracket 120, the reinl forcement thereof being provided as described previously.

Thus the entire mechanism may be opened by simply lifting upward and outwardly on the upper part of `front board 68 until the head section 15 is horizontally disposed; thereupon, foot seciton 21 is lifted up and folded downwardly until it also is horizontal to the floor. In closing and locking the `mechanism 11, the reverse procedure is followed. It will be appreciated that by this feature of the i-nvention, a lock is provided which is automatic, safe and certain in operation.

While I have particularly shown a lock wherein a rubbing bracket and rollers are used, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that not only may the particular arrangement described be reversed, but a variety of structures employing the described principle of opposed forces with frictional engagement thereof may also be used.

Turning now to still another feature of the invention, as shown particularly inFigures 2 and 3, it will be noted that anv extension bracket 160 is secured to the side rail 21a so that in the closed position the bracket is adjacent to and immediately above member 60. By varying the height of bracket 160, one can within predetermined limits adjust the height of the seat platform provided by section Having now particularly described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a convertible-bed of the character described, a fixed frame, an inner section of a bed mechanism suspended in said frame and adapted to move to and from a horizontal position when in bed position and a generally vertical position when said bed is folded, an intermediate section pivoted to said inner section, a connecting section pivoted to said intermediate section, an end section pivoted to said connecting section, said sections adapted to extend in line horizontally to support a mattress when in bed position and when in folded position to llie with said end section folded back generally horizontally and parallel to said intermediate section with said connecting section generally vertical, and with the mattress folded over therebetween, two arms attached to said inner section on respective sides thereof and' extending generally upward when said inner section is horizontal and generally horizontally outward toward and slightly above the end of said end section when said bed is folded, and two brackets carried on the end of said end section and bearing upward against said arms when said bed is folded thereby locking the end of said end section against upward movement and pressing it downward generally parallel to said intermediate section, whereby upon folding of said bed the downward swinging of said arms on said inner section acts dynamically to engage said brackets on the end of said end section and to force said end relatively toward said intermediate section to generally parallel relation therewith and the inward pivoting of said inner section gives this dynamic action great mechanical advantage.

2.,'l`he structure as in claim 1 wherein each of said brackets extends forward a substantial distance from a respective corner of said end section and is curved downward from a point above the end of said end section when said sections are folded, said arms substantially overlapping the end of said end section when said sections are folded. t

3. The structure as in claim l in further combination with at least one roller mounted on each of said brackets and freely rotatable.

4. The structure as in claim l in further combination with a headboard rigidly mounted between said arms.

5. The structure as in claim 3 wherein there are a plurality of rollers mounted on spaced apart axes on each of said brackets. l i

6. In a convertible bed of the character described, a stationary frame, an inner section of a bed mechanism suspended in said frame and adapted to move to and from a horizontal position when in bed position and a generally vertical position when said bed is folded, an intermediate section pivoted to said inner section, a connecting section pivoted to said intermediate section, an end section pivoted to said connecting section, said sections adapted to extend in line horizontally to support a mattress when in bed position and when in folded position to lie with said end section folded back generally horizontally and parallel to said intermediate section with said connecting section generally vertical and. with the mattress folded over therebetween, an arm-like member securely attached to said inner section and extending generally upward when said inner sectionis horizontal and generally horizontally outward toward the end of said end section when said bed is folded, a member rotatably mounted on one of said arm or said end section adjacent its end, and a member engaging portion on the other one of said arm or said end section adjacent its end, said member and said engaging portion contacting eachother upon folding of said bed whereby the downward swinging of said arm-like member on said inner section acts-dynamically to engage the end of said end` section and to force said end relatively toward said intermediate section to generally parallel relation therewith `and the inward pivoting of said inner section gives this stationary lframe, an inner section of a bed mechanism suspended in said frame and adapted to moveto and from a horizontal position when in bed position and a generally vertical position when said bed is folded, an intermediate section pivoted to said inner section, a connecting section pivoted to said intermediate section, an end section pivoted to said connecting section, said sections adapted to extend in linek horizontally to support a mattress when in bed position and when in folded position to lie with said end section folded back generally horizontally and parallel to said intermediate section with said connecting section generally vertical and with the mattress folded over therebetween, an arm-like member securely attached to said inner section and extending generally upward when said inner section is horizontal and `generally horizontally outward toward the end of said end section when said bed is folded, a bearing member integral with one of said arm or said end section adjacent its end and dening a curved line of sliding engagement, and a bearing member engaging portion on the other one of said arm and said end section adjacent its end, said member and said engaging portion contacting each other upon folding of said bed and sliding against each other along a curved line whereby the downward swinging of said arm-like member on said inner section acts dynamically to engage the end of said end section and to force said end relatively toward said intermediate section to generally parallel relation therewith and the inward pivoting of said inner section gives this dynamic action great mechanical advantage.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,078,909 Fischrupp Nov. 18, 1913 1,727,025 Bengtson Sept. 3, 1929 2,352,989 Woller July 4, 1944 2,576,062 Bebry Nov. 20, 1951 2,595,038 Woller Apr. 29, 1952 2,624,888 Bebry Ian. 13, 1953 20 2,634,428 Fox Apr. 14, 1953 

